Dhaka jottings: notes from the fashion scene

The 1980's saw a fashion revolution in Bangladesh. Plastics were taking over terracotta and silver; nylons displaced the ages-old heritage of cotton and silk. It was not only a battle between tradition and modernity; it was also a confrontation of lifestyles and values. Now the tide is changing again, and the time has come to strike a balance.
While fusion highlights pop high fashion, a subtler genre must evolve that will appeal to the mass, the fashionably sensitive and a world market starved for the spicy colours and hues of the subcontinent. And it has! Recently, designers, western and eastern alike, have cross-pollinated the East with the West, blurring their influences in a kaleidoscope of colour, accessories and trends. The result? A dazzling mix of must-haves like sari-style gowns, opulent silk, rows of glinting bangles, and a juicy palette of lime green, orange, butter yellow and bright pink.
This season's ready-to-wear collections will feature Eastern accents like draped dhoti pants, silky tunic-trouser sets, metallic tunics and light as air saris- simple, luxurious and oozing understated sexuality. With an array of distinguishable features by fabric, draping style and motifs, the sari shall stand out as a bright beacon of style in a sea of basic black.
In an attempt to merge experience with the skills of the craftsmen, designers, and quite wisely so, have became aware that contemporary designers must revitalise their own roots and identity. This is essential to take Bangladeshi creativity out from the local industry and out into the world in a way that benefits both craftsmen and the modern consumer.
Dhaka Fashion Show 2008, arranged as part of four hundred years celebration of Dhaka, promises to break virgin ground. Fifteen designers presenting their work in a myriad of variations of themes- the ensemble certainly assure a fashion fiesta. With over a dozen shows, each unique in its distinctive style and form, the challenge is to present them in a manner coherent to the theme of the show "The Fusion City" yet unique in essence. The crafted designers of Bangladesh have been exposed to the colours of a country rich in culture and diverse in its people. As an inspiration, the country has it all! With a focus on the capital, the creators of 'wearable' art are confronted with the creative challenge of transforming inspirations derived from the lifestyle, culture and nature.
From villages where local craftsmen weave dreams with magic fingers, to factories, workshops and outlets where retailers jostle for survival, to the opulent grandeur of boutiques and malls, Dhaka Fashion Week 2008 will certainly lead the style sensitive to new doors of discovery. The ensemble quite certainly, holds the key.